Have you ever had to deal with this scenario? You find a job that you think you’d really like, however, you have limited or zero work experience. You decide not to bother applying and let the opportunity go because you think the hiring manager won’t see past your limited experience.
If you have a limited or no work experience, finding a job can be quite a challenge. A lot of companies, even for an entry-level position, now require relevant or one to two years of industry work. And, this can be very frustrating and be discouraging for someone who has just graduated or who are still in college looking for a job. So how do you get a job without or little experience?
Limited Work Experience, How To Deal With It?
If you’ve been searching for a job and failed to do so because of limited job experience, it can be really upsetting. However, this shouldn’t stop you from job hunting. So before we get on to the details on how you can overcome limited work experience, make sure that you have right mindset and attitude. Learn how you can work on yourself, outline your most desired and relevant skills. In most cases, job descriptions are only the hiring manager’s ideal traits/skills’ for an optimal potential employee. If you match 80% or you’re really confident with your skills then give it a shot, apply for that job.
How To Overcome Limited Work Experience
If you want to increase your chances of getting hired even with little to no experience, here are some tips you can try to get to the next step of the interviewing process:
Optimize Your Resume
This is one of the most vital pieces of documents that hiring managers will see so make sure to include relevant and vital skills. If you have undergone an internship, then include that. Don’t forget to outline what your roles were and achievements if you have during that internship. You can also list out significant projects you completed at school to give the recruiter or hiring manager an idea of what you can contribute to the company.
A Well-Crafted Cover Letter
A cover letter is not always compulsory when submitting a resume but, a well written and strong cover letter can be vital, especially if you don’t have a lot of work experience. Your cover letter can say a lot about you and is the perfect opportunity to relate your skills to the company’s needs. If possible, point out how your non-traditional career can be an asset.
Make A Good First Impression
When you submit your resume or go into your initial interview, make sure to leave a good first impression. Dress appropriately (read more about How To Ace Your Preliminary Interview) and practice interview questions beforehand.
Use Your Network
Your network can be very important with a situation like this. A strong recommendation from someone who can vouch for your skills and good working relationship can be a boost in your progress to getting that dream job. You can also utilize it to find job openings from your network.
When you’re applying for a job, work experience is very important, but it’s not everything. A better way to increase your chances of being hired is to demonstrate your skills and how you can help the company grow.